A male suspect has been formally accused of the homicide of a mother of seven who went missing from the West Midlands region in 1998.
The individual in question, Trevor Dunkley, aged 66, has been charged in connection with the demise of Patricia Lashley. Lashley was last sighted at her residence on Hall Street, Dudley, in September 1998, as disclosed by West Midlands Police on Thursday.
Dunkley has been detained pending a court appearance at Wolverhampton Crown Court scheduled for Monday, according to the police statement.
Authorities are providing support to the family of Ms. Lashley and are making a public appeal for additional information from individuals who were acquainted with her around the time of her disappearance.
Known by her friends as Pat or Jade, Ms. Lashley was 33 years old when she vanished and had associations with Newcastle, London, Wales, and Scotland.
She also went by the names Vanessa and Tricia, in addition to the surname Bradford.
Investigators mentioned that Ms. Lashley relocated to Dudley in the mid-1990s and frequented establishments like the No Limits club and other pubs in the vicinity. It is believed that she and Trevor Dunkley had some level of acquaintance.
Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell stated, “We are seeking anyone who may have had interactions with Patricia or Trevor Dunkley.”
“We are aware that she was quite well-known in both Dudley town center and Oldbury,” Cordell added.
“If anyone recalls any details or believes they possess information that could aid in our investigation, we urge them to come forward.”
“Even if you have previously provided information when Patricia first disappeared, we encourage you to reach out again as we gather as much detail as possible to assist her family in finding closure after nearly three decades.”
Individuals with further information are urged to contact 101 and reference log 3984 of July 7.
